SEQUENTIAL APPLICATION OF MAJOR HABIT-REVERSAL COMPONENTS TO TREAT MOTOR TICS IN CHILDREN

In this study, we sequentially administered up to four components of t he habit-reversal treatment to 4 children with motor ties within a mul tiple baseline design. The habit-reversal components included (a) awar eness training; (b) awareness training and self-monitoring; (c) awaren ess training, self-monitoring, and social support; and (d) awareness t raining, social support, and the use of a competing response. Results demonstrated that the combined use of awareness training, social suppo rt, and competing response training was effective in eliminating motor ties in 2 of 4 children, that awareness training alone was effective for 1 child, and that a combination of awareness training and self-mon itoring was effective for the 4th child. The treatment and ensuing imp rovement were found to be socially valid. We discuss possible explanat ions for these results and recommend directions for future research.